If your handwriting leaves a lot to be desired, or if you’re teaching your
child to write neatly from a young age, follow these simple 1-2-3 steps for
perfect pencraft

It sounds obvious but you’d be amazed what a difference the right pen can make to how well you write. It’s largely down to personal preference, but the weight and barrel thickness should sit comfortably, and you want the flow of ink to be smooth. The type of nib will also make a difference. With a ballpoint the pen will move quickly, while the nib on an italic-style fountain pen will produce sharper and more angular movements. A good-quality regular fountain pen is a safe bet. The ink will come out thick but under your control.

It's all in the posture

Sit up straight with your forearm resting on the table. You want your arm to move your fingers and not your wrist. If you’re helping a child to improve their writing, guide them away from curving their arm around the page (a legacy of making sure classmates don’t copy their work). The pen should be pinched, delicately, between thumb and first finger.

Practice makes perfect

Lengthen the join between letters and at first practise writing very large, to get the strokes right, before then shrinking your handwriting back down to size. Look for examples of handwriting that you find attractive – you don’t want it too different from your own hand – and then copy it. Children’s handwriting books are brilliant for practising in because they give you guidelines to work with. And practice really is key if you want to make any improvements permanent. In idle moments doodle letters that you struggle with until you’re happy with them.